Two years ago today, the Rocky closed

Gov. Bill Ritter had only a few days left in office when I got a call in early January. Come on down, the governor has something for you.

Actually, Ritter had two things for me: One was a personal letter, the other a copy of the final edition of the Rocky Mountain News, which he had signed. Both reduced me to tears.

Today marks the two-year anniversary of the Rocky’s final edition, a sad day for Colorado and for journalism. Denver was blessed to have two good papers, and I remain forever grateful that my former rival hired me.

Chad McDonald, a lieutenant known as Mac, born in La Junta, working at Fort Lyon since shortly after it opened, gets to his feet. He’s in uniform. “You talk about closing a facility,” he says, and immediately chokes up. “You’re talking about closing my home. . . . It’s not a facility. It’s a family. . . . This is our life. You can’t take it away. We’re not going to let you take it away.”

I learned to read using the Rocky back in the late 50’s, read it every day until the last day. They even sent it to me when I was stationed overseas. Remember getting 15 or 20 papers at mail call. Every body wanted to read it when I finished. Some of them had never read a newspaper, said it was full of trash and political hogwash. The Rocky changed their minds. It is missed ALOT.

I learned to read using the Rocky back in the late 50’s, read it every day until the last day. They even sent it to me when I was stationed overseas. Remember getting 15 or 20 papers at mail call. Every body wanted to read it when I finished. Some of them had never read a newspaper, said it was full of trash and political hogwash. The Rocky changed their minds. It is missed ALOT.

I learned to read using the Rocky back in the late 50’s, read it every day until the last day. They even sent it to me when I was stationed overseas. Remember getting 15 or 20 papers at mail call. Every body wanted to read it when I finished. Some of them had never read a newspaper, said it was full of trash and political hogwash. The Rocky changed their minds. It is missed ALOT.

I learned to read using the Rocky back in the late 50’s, read it every day until the last day. They even sent it to me when I was stationed overseas. Remember getting 15 or 20 papers at mail call. Every body wanted to read it when I finished. Some of them had never read a newspaper, said it was full of trash and political hogwash. The Rocky changed their minds. It is missed ALOT.

I miss the Rocky News as well. I didn’t always agree with the Rocky, but it was an alternative view. Today, it is “The Post View…or no view.” Try to get an alternative op-ed piece in the Opinion page, and it never makes it. I appreciate the fact that The Post hired good reporters from the Rocky, and for that reason only, I will continue to read The Post. Success my friends….

When I was a kid I used to deliver the Rocky Mountain News and I used to collect door to door. I seen years ago how much people loved that paper. I never realized, untill it was gone how much I loved and enjoyed The Rocky and that it was a big part of my life too. The Post will never be The Rocky. We all miss that paper

When I was a kid I used to deliver the Rocky Mountain News and I used to collect door to door. I seen years ago how much people loved that paper. I never realized, untill it was gone how much I loved and enjoyed The Rocky and that it was a big part of my life too. The Post will never be The Rocky. We all miss that paper

Since the Rocky closed, there has been no coverage on the problems workers sickened by working at the Rocky Flats facility. There’s been a new development but only a small percentage of the workers or their survivors know about it.

The Rocky did not fail. It was discontinued by the publisher because the Post was more economical to publish and had a larger following in this blue State. The publisher said that the Rocky was a better paper and regretted that it was the one chosen to die. It did not fail in the traditional sense and would have survived in a red State.

Joey Bunch has been a reporter for 28 years, including the last 12 at The Denver Post. For various newspapers he has covered the environment, water issues, politics, civil rights, sports and the casino industry.